Injury overshadows 18-point comeback

WARRIORS 108, KINGS 101

Published 4:00 am, Saturday, January 9, 2010

Photo: Ben Margot, AP

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Golden State Warriors coach Don Nelson, right, with Warriors, from left, Andris Biedrins, C.J. Watson (23) and Corey Maggette (50), check on the condition of Anthony Randolph (4) after Randolph injured his ankle during the first half of an NBA basketballgame against the Sacramento Kings, on Friday, Jan. 8, 2010, in Oakland, Calif. less

Golden State Warriors' Monta Ellis (8) shoots over Sacramento Kings' Tyreke Evans during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 8, 2010, in Oakland, Calif.

Golden State Warriors' Monta Ellis (8) shoots over Sacramento Kings' Tyreke Evans during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 8, 2010, in Oakland, Calif.

Photo: Ben Margot, AP

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Golden State Warriors' Anthony Randolph is assisted off the court after injuring his ankle during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings, Friday, Jan. 8, 2010, in Oakland, Calif.

Golden State Warriors' Anthony Randolph is assisted off the court after injuring his ankle during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings, Friday, Jan. 8, 2010, in Oakland, Calif.

Photo: Ben Margot, AP

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The Golden State Warriors' Anthony Randolph is surrounded by teammates after he injured his ankle Friday in Oakland.

The Golden State Warriors' Anthony Randolph is surrounded by teammates after he injured his ankle Friday in Oakland.

Photo: Ben Margot, AP

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The Golden State Warriors' Anthony Randolph screams in pain after injuring his ankle during the game against the Sacramento Kings on Friday in Oakland.

The Golden State Warriors' Anthony Randolph screams in pain after injuring his ankle during the game against the Sacramento Kings on Friday in Oakland.

Photo: Ben Margot, AP

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The Sacramento Kings' Jon Brockman, right, and the Golden State Warriors' Anthony Randolph, left, battle for the ball Friday in Oakland.

The Sacramento Kings' Jon Brockman, right, and the Golden State Warriors' Anthony Randolph, left, battle for the ball Friday in Oakland.

Photo: Ben Margot, AP

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The Sacramento Kings' Omri Casspi, left, attempts to maintain possession of the ball as Golden State Warriors' C.J. Watson strips it during the first half Friday in Oakland.

The Sacramento Kings' Omri Casspi, left, attempts to maintain possession of the ball as Golden State Warriors' C.J. Watson strips it during the first half Friday in Oakland.

Photo: Ben Margot, AP

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The Sacramento Kings' Omri Casspi, left, looks to pass as he falls to the floor as Golden State Warriors' C.J. Watson defends during the first half Friday in Oakland.

The Sacramento Kings' Omri Casspi, left, looks to pass as he falls to the floor as Golden State Warriors' C.J. Watson defends during the first half Friday in Oakland.

Photo: Ben Margot, AP

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The Sacramento Kings' Jason Thompson, back, and the Golden State Warriors' Monta Ellis scramble for a loose ball during the first half Friday in Oakland.

The Sacramento Kings' Jason Thompson, back, and the Golden State Warriors' Monta Ellis scramble for a loose ball during the first half Friday in Oakland.

Photo: Ben Margot, AP

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The Sacramento Kings' Tyreke Evans looks to pass away from Golden State Warriors' Corey Maggette, lower right, during the first half Friday in Oakland.

The Sacramento Kings' Tyreke Evans looks to pass away from Golden State Warriors' Corey Maggette, lower right, during the first half Friday in Oakland.

Photo: Ben Margot, AP

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The Golden State Warriors' Monta Ellis goes up for a shot between the Sacramento Kings' Tyreke Evans, left, and Ime Udoka during the first half Friday in Oakland.

The Golden State Warriors' Monta Ellis goes up for a shot between the Sacramento Kings' Tyreke Evans, left, and Ime Udoka during the first half Friday in Oakland.

Photo: Ben Margot, AP

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Golden State Warriors' Ronny Turiaf gestures to his mother in the stands during the final seconds of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings, Friday, Jan. 8, 2010, in Oakland, Calif.

Golden State Warriors' Ronny Turiaf gestures to his mother in the stands during the final seconds of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings, Friday, Jan. 8, 2010, in Oakland, Calif.

Photo: Ben Margot, AP

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Injury overshadows 18-point comeback

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The Warriors won 108-101 over Sacramento on Friday night, a fact that seems almost trivial if they lost one of the pillars of their future foundation at the same time.

Anthony Randolph went down in the first quarter with what X-rays indicated is a sprain and possibly a fracture to his left ankle. He'll have a CT scan today to clarify the diagnosis, according the Warriors.

He went up to block a shot, was clipped on his way down and landed awkwardly, causing his ankle to turn perpendicular to the floor.

High ankle sprains may sideline a player for as short as two to three weeks or as long as six months, and the Warriors acted like it was every bit as serious as the latter.

"It's tough to celebrate, because he's a big part of our team," Stephen Curry said. "He always brings a spark to us. We just got the other big guys back, so it's like we're trading them out. It's tough."

The injury to Randolph put a damper on what was one of the gutsiest comebacks of the season. The Warriors came back from an 18-point deficit in the third quarter and 10 down in the fourth.

"Some games you just don't know how you do it, and it's hard to know how we came back," coach Don Nelson said.

Put simply, the Warriors started playing defense. They limited Sacramento to 40 percent shooting in the second half, including allowing 15 points in the fourth quarter - the fewest points the Kings have scored in a quarter this season. They scored 20 points off 11 turnovers in the second half.

Monta Ellis scored a team-high 39 points - his eighth 30-point game in the last 11 - to go with six assists and four rebounds. Corey Maggette had his 12th 20-point game in the last 13, and Curry added 12 points, four assists and three steals.

Ellis' layup with 2:50 remaining gave the Warriors a 100-99 lead - their first since the 5:37 mark of the first quarter. Sacramento failed to score on its next four possessions, and Anthony Morrow hit a three-pointer - his only basket of the game - to make it 103-99 with 49.2 seconds left.

"Monta just willed a win with our team not doing well," Nelson said. "He just focused and kept trucking like that little Energizer Bunny.

"He just kept coming."

The win kicked off a seven-game stand at Oracle Arena for the Warriors (11-24), who have played a league-low 14 (7-7) at home. They have won three straight at home and have generally played well since Ronny Turiaf and Andris Biedrins returned from injuries.

Now, they have another setback.

"It's very disappointing, because Randolph was playing very well and coming into his own," Ellis said.

Randolph, a second-year forward, is considered along with Ellis and Curry to be part of the core of what the Warriors have once again started calling a "rebuilding process." Every bit of Randolph's importance to the team poured out when he laid face down on the court, grabbing his ankle.

Turiaf and athletic trainer Tom Abdenour raced from the bench to the court. After a couple of seconds, the entire Warriors team joined the huddle. Randolph didn't put any weight on his leg as Chris Hunter and Devean George helped him from the floor, bypassing the bench to go straight to the locker room.

"We're going to enjoy this win, but we know Anthony Randolph is a huge part of this team," Morrow said. "We're going to pray that he gets back ready to play. He's a big part with his scoring, rebounding and everything he does."

Up next

Who: vs. Cavaliers

When: 7:30 p.m. Monday

TV/Radio: CSNBA/680

Of note: Cleveland's Anderson Varejao led the NBA with a 323 plus-minus rating before Friday night's game.

Opening tip: Coach Don Nelson reiterated before Friday's game his desire for a backup small forward. "We're playing backup 2s there right now, and it's quite a mismatch," Nelson said. After the game, the team announced it will sign 6-foot-7 Cartier Martin out of the NBA Development League. - Rusty Simmons

Gambling ban

Warriors coach Don Nelson said the league should follow the path of the New Jersey Nets, who this week banned gambling on team flights.

"I don't think card games are good things overall, because, with all of the money that is changing hands, it can get out of hand financially and not everyone has the same bag from which to pull," Nelson said. "Also, a lot of games carry on through the night, and the players try to sleep during the day, which is a bad thing."

Nelson said the Warriors' flights haven't had a consistent poker game since Stephen Jackson was traded Nov. 16.

"I like what New Jersey did," Nelson said. "I don't think I have to have a rule, because we don't have a game right now, but maybe the league ought to think about doing something."

- Rusty Simmons

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